Illustrating Stories of the American West

Karen Yarnall

After studying the American West with its rich history, art and stories, students will then select and research a folk tale, story or tall tale, or a Native American myth or legend and capture a moment from their selections in a color illustration. It will add to the students’ knowledge of the American West and an appreciation of the tales that are a part of it. Not only will this unit fit into a secondary art, literature or social studies curriculum, but it will allow students to make cross-curricular connections between social studies, literature, geography, reading, writing, and art. A variety of teaching strategies will be used to implement this unit. The students will also learn about illustrating and will experiment with different techniques using colored pencils. After they have gained expertise and confidence, they will effectively use the elements of art and the principles of design to create their own illustrations. They will analyze and evaluate selected art works and stories and also critique their own work and that of their peers. This unit will culminate with an evening art show opening of the illustrations for the community.